Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 24 March 1893
Battle with Death.
Suffocated At The Cadeby Colliery.
On Monday, the first fatal accident at the new Cadeby Colliery was registered and the story of the occurrence and the succeeding events as told at the inquest was a tale of pure heroism. A deputy namd Nelmes, as the result of a rash act was overpowered by gas in one of the workings, at 6 o’clock, on Monday morning, and several men risked their lives in the effort to rescue their comrade.
It was sot till half-past one of the day, that Mr. H. S. Witty was able to regain possession of the body.
The inquest win held at Reresby Arms, on Thursday, before Mr. D. Wightman, the coroner. Mr. A. C. Meggitt was the foreman of the jury. Mr. Chambers, the manager of the Denaby Main Colliery Company, was present and Mr. Mellors, Government Inspector of Mines, was also present.
The evidence was as follows:—Elizabeth Nelmes, said deceased was 32 years of age, and was a miner. They had been married 19 years, and deceased had worked in the pit ever since she knew him. Her husband came to work at Denaby three years ago. He was a healthy man.
Henry William Campbell, undermanager at the Denaby Main Colliery Company, said he had known deceased some years. He was a deputy. The accident happened at six on the morning of Monday. They had gone together to look for gas. They knew they had left it on Saturday, for deceased had reported it. They both had lamps. They got the seven men to work, and deceased said, We will go and look at this gas.” He replied, ” All right, sir.” They went up the slit, as it was closed, to a fence about 10 yards up. Deceased got through the fence first, which brought him a few yards in advance of witness. When they were going up he said, “I can get to the air pipe and, I was there on Friday night.” They went 60 yards up—the slit was 88 yards long— and there he examined the mark and pulled his wick up. He went 10 yards further and saw gas, and said, ”Come back, George.” Deceased was 13 or 14 yards in advance and never answered, this and he then repeated and emphasized the command, but got no answer.
He put his lamp down, as he fell sure deceased was down. He went up after him as far as he could, till he felt himself go, and when he found he could not get to him he rushed back and fetched two more men to assist him. The men came as soon as possible, and when they had got to the place where he had first put his lamp down, they all three left their lamps and went up. One man fell out of the three, and he and the other man had to go that. They fetched four men and then there were five of them all hold of hands. He was at the end, and when he felt himself going he called out for them to pull him back. He tried to get the man away who had last fallen, but he could not. After another attempt, in which he failed, another of the men said he thought he could manage it. He therefore decided to let him go first, and they put a belt round his waist, and slipped another belt through that, so that the man might have free use of both hands. He then took hold of the belt and joined hands with the others, and the first man went down on his hands and knees and crawled up to the man who had last fallen and took firm all with his hands and than gay the commend to pall. They all pulled and were successful, but the thrill was clutching to the ground in his unconsciousness and did not leave hold till a fingernail was pulled off. It was useless to try to get to the deceased, but they set to work to clear the gas.
They were working till 1.30 clearing the gas out, and then tried to fetch deceased out. Mr. Witty went in the slit w.ith a rope round his neck and shoulders, and four of them, and hold of the rope to pull him back if he fell. He got to the man and called out “pull” but was unsuccessful and came back for fresh air. He had to go five times to fetch the man, who was, of course, dead, but at last he managed to do it.
The Coroner: How do you account for a deputy going up there when he knew there was gas?
Witness knew no reason.
The Coroner: Watt could he have done it he had got to the end?
Witness: Nothing.
By the Inspector. There have been gas in previous to Friday, and deceased had reported before. He had seen deceased test for gas. He did not think the deceased knew how to do it properly though he knew when he had gas in his lamp
Harry Sykes Witty, manager of Cadeby Colliery, knew deceased. He had commended deceased for a deputy, as he considered him a competent race. He had worked at Staveley, where he said he had been a fire-trier, shot-firer, and occasionally a deputy. He could not account for decease going up the slit so far.
A Juror: It was over zeal.
The Coroner said he could make no more of it
By the Inspector of Mines: He had no reason to doubt the competency of the deceased.
A verdict of “Accidental death ” was returned.